At CSX freight yard, Murray touts increased train service

Thursday

Oct 4, 2012 at 6:00 AMOct 4, 2012 at 10:20 PM

By John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

With the snip of a giant pair of scissors to cut a red ribbon at the new CSX freight terminal near Union Station this morning, Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray, city leaders and state transportation officials marked the completion of agreements with CSX that clear the way for double-stacked freight service and a new expansion of commuter rail service.

State transportation officials on hand for the event accepted ownership of the rail line between Worcester and Framingham - provided for in the agreements. They announced the addition of three new round trips per day on the Worcester-Boston commuter rail line.

In addition to unveiling a new train schedule that includes new trips that will begin Oct. 29, officials said they will add three more round trips over the next 12 months.

The event was something of a celebration for CSX officials, city leaders and state officials who developed the plans out of long negotiations aimed at freeing up rail time between Boston and Worcester.

"Let's get those trains rolling," Lt. Gov. Murray said as he addressed a group of officials who worked on the project in the freight yard off Franklin Street. A long train carrying freight trailers pulled out of the yard.

"Since the restoration of limited commuter rail service to Worcester in 1994, the importance of linking New England's two largest cities by passenger rail has been clear," Mr. Murray said. "This finalized agreement with CSX marks a major milestone for transportation in Massachusetts as we deliver enhanced services for the growing deman of riders and support businesses and community development in Worcester and the Metro-West area."

The service expansion was accomplished with a $100 million state investment, including the cost of purchasing the rail line between Worcester and Framingham, while CSX officials said they are investing about $100 million to relocate freight operations from Boston to Worcester and raise bridges along freight lines to the New York state line.

Starting Oct. 29, the state Department of Transportation will be adding new Worcester-to-Boston inbound trains as well as outbound Boston-to-Worcester trains, according to the new train schedule. Mr. Murray said DOT officials are also planning to add one inbound morning express train and one evening outbound express train in the spring, and adding two more next October, to bring the total to 20 round trips per day.

Purchase of the track between Worcester and Framingham will give the state control of dispatch on lines used by commuter rail between Worcester and Boston for the first time, and clear the way for further upgrades to reduce commuting times, officials said.

State Transportation Secretary Richard Davey, who attended the event along with City Manager Michael V. O'Brien, several city councilors and state representatives, officially accepted the “keys” for the ownership of the rail tracks

"With this rail purchase and the expansion of rail service, we are helping to open new doors of economic opportunity for residents and businesses across the state," Mr. Davey said.

Mr. Murray said the commuter rail service expansion will be a key driver of economic and population growth for the city and region in the coming years.

“It's going to make Worcester and Central Massachusetts more accessible and more convenient and with that I think you are going to continue to see private-sector investment and population growth,” said Mr. Murray.

As former mayor of Worcester and, since 2007, as lieutenant governor, Mr. Murray worked with other city and state officials and the state's congressional delegation to expand commuter rail out of Union Station.

“I think it's going to accelerate investment into the city and the region,” Mr. Murray said.

It is one reason the city's downtown redevelopment project known as CitySquare, which includes new office buildings, commercial and residential space, is under construction despite a down economy, he said.

“The fact that City Square went forward despite the great recession underscores the value the region represents,” Mr. Murray said. “I predict that by the time the 2020 census comes around, Worcester will have well over 200,000 people living there."

That would represent an increase of more than 15,000 compared to today's population. Mr. Murray said once the state takes ownership of the track, it can invest in track improvements and new signals that will allow the commuter trains to travel at higher speeds and overcome delays caused by slow speed limits imposed during hot weather.

A key to the expansion plan was to reduce the number of freight trains that also use the track. Officials said state control will allow it to give priority to commuter trains and shift freight yard operations to Worcester from Boston will dramatically reduce the number of freight trains using the track, freeing up more track time for commuter trains.Operational costs for the three new round trip trains is expected to be minimal because those trains will be an extension of trains that already run between Boston and Framingham, Mr. Murray said.

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